Pregnancy Week 15
Baby’s Growth During the 15th Week of Pregnancy
Your baby is about the size of an apple this week, weighing in at about 2 1/2 ounches and about 4 inches long. Your little one is wiggling fingers and toes and making breathing movements as amniotic fluid passes through the nose and upper respiratory tract. This helps the air sacs in the lugs develop and prepares your baby for life outside of the womb.
Although your baby can now move all joints and muscles, the eyelids are still fused shut. This doesn’t mean though that your baby can’t sense light if you hold a flashlight to your tummy, your baby will move away from the beam. Taste buds are also forming though there isn’t much for your baby to be tasting at this point.
An ultrasound this week might show if you’re having a boy or girl though this depends on your baby’s position and the clarity of the picture. Don’t be too disappointed if it remains a mystery though, some babies are turned or are curled up and it may be hard to tell.
Body Changes in the 15th Week of Pregnancy
Your well into the swing of your pregnancy but that doesn’t mean that you’re free of symptoms. That pesky progesterone may be causing your a chronic stuffy nose or even creating nosebleeds. Don’t worry, it’ll pass.
Are your teeth and gums feeling a little tender? That’s normal too as pregnancy hormones are rough on your body causing inflammation in your teeth and gums making them more susceptible to plaque and bacteria. If your formerly health gums have become super sensitive or are not prone to bleeding while brushing, it is normal.
An amniocentesis, a test that identifies hundreds of genetic and chromosomal disorders, may happen between now and 18 weeks. Try not to feel anxious though, most women who have an amniocentesis get good news about their babies which is a welcome relief to all the normal worries.
